Pallet for bulk bag

ABSTRACT

A pallet for bulk bags consists of a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members and a bulk bag. Each of the tine receiving members have a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and an interior surface. At least one strap receiving channel runs along the interior surface at the top. The exterior surface is devoid of appendages. The interior surface is being devoid of obstructions. The bulk bag has sides and a bottom. Straps are secured to the bulk bag, which are adapted to engage the at least one strap receiving channel of each of the tine receiving members for the purpose of securing the tine receiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pallet for bulk bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's manufacturing environment, most providers try to utilize thecube of their facility, as opposed to the square foot area. In order todo this, they use not only one or two methods of handling bulk bags, butin some cases a whole series of methods integrated into one overallsystem. The types of equipment employed include: a counterbalanced forklift truck, a straddle fork lift, a straddle reach fork lift, a turretstacker, a turret reach stacker, a remote control stacker, a rollerconveyor system, a power and free conveyor system, a belt conveyorsystem, a hand operated pallet truck, or a power operated hand truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is required is a pallet for bulk bags, which is sufficientlyversatile as to permit use with a wide variety of handling systems.

According to the present invention there is provided a pallet for bulkbags which consists of a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channeltine receiving members and a bulk bag. Each of the tine receivingmembers have a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surfaceand an interior surface. At least one strap receiving channel runs alongthe interior surface at the top. The exterior surface is devoid ofappendages. The interior surface is being devoid of obstructions. Thebulk bag has sides and a bottom. Straps are secured to the bulk bag,which are adapted to engage the at least one strap receiving channel ofeach of the tine receiving members for the purpose of securing the tinereceiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following description in which reference is made to the appendeddrawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and arenot intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to theparticular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a bulk bag equipped with tinereceiving members in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top rear perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom front perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom rear perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of abulk bag equipped with tine receiving members;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the bulk bag of a third embodimentof a bulk bag equipped with tine receiving members.

FIG. 9 is perspective view of the bulk bag equipped with tine receivingmembers illustrated in FIG. 1 in use with a lift truck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, a pallet for a bulk bag generally identifiedby reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1through 6 and FIG. 9. A second embodiment of a pallet for a bulk baggenerally identified by reference numeral 100, will be described withreference to FIG. 7. A third embodiment of a pallet for a bulk baggenerally identified by reference numeral 200, will be described withreference to FIG. 8.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a pallet 10 for bulk bags, whichincludes a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receivingmembers 12 and a bulk bag 14. Each of tine receiving members 12 has atop 16 and opposed sides 18 which define both an exterior surface 20 andan interior surface 22. A receiving channel 24 runs along interiorsurface 22 at top 16. Exterior surface 20 is devoid of appendages andinterior surface 22 is devoid of obstructions. Bulk bag 14 has sides 26and a top 28 and a bottom 30. Top 28 can have a cover 32 as illustratedin FIG. 2, or could be left open as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, straps 34 are secured to bulk bag 14 which areadapted to engage receiving channels 24 of each of tine receivingmembers 12 for the purpose of securing tine receiving members 12 tobottom 30 of bulk bag 14. In the illustrated embodiment, straps 34 areprovided with an adjustment buckle 36 for adjusting the length of straps34. Lifting loops 38 are provided at top 28 of bulk bag 14.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, an inwardly extending edgereinforcement 40 extends longitudinally along a bottom edge 42 of eachof opposed sides 18 of tine receiving members 12. In the illustratedembodiment, tine receiving members 12 are made from polymer plastic,although it will be appreciated that they could be manufactured fromother materials.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a second embodiment of apallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 100.Second embodiment 100 is similar to first embodiment, except thatadhesive 110 has been used along top 16 of tine receiving members 12 forthe purpose of securing tine receiving member 12 to bulk bag 14.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a third embodiment of a palletfor a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 200. Thirdembodiment 200 is similar to first embodiment except that lengths ofrope 210 are used for securing for the purpose of securing tinereceiving member 12 to bulk bag 14.

Operation:

Referring to FIG. 9, pallet 10 for bulk bags is suitable for use withhandling equipment such as a lift truck 44. Forks 46 provided on lifttruck 44 are received in pair of elongate “C” channel tine receivingmembers 12. Lift truck 44 is then able to lift and transport pallet 10and bulk bag 14 along with any material contained in bulk bag 14.

Features and Advantages:

The main features of this design can best be described with thefollowing emphasis

It will accommodate and facilitate the use of either a singular peace ofhandling equipment (lift truck) or any combination there of.

The means of attachment of the pallet member to the bulk bag is a simplestrap, that can be either of semi ridged material or of an elasticnature. The means of fixation at the terminal ends can be adapted to themost desirable method for a given situation. For example one end can besewn or glued to the bulk bag, while the other end can be affixed bymeans of “D” rings, or couplings commonly used on golf bags, seat belts,or Velcro, to name a few.

A slotted eye and pin combination located in the recessed section, so asnot to obstruct or restrict the movement of the lifting device member,(fork, tine, or wheel).

Since the only tension forces between the pallet member and the bulk bagexist only if and when the bulk bag is held in suspension, and thoseforces are limited to the weight of the individual pallet member.Therefore all the vertical forces between the bag and the pallet memberare in compression irrespective of whether the unit load is in astationary position on the floor, or on a pallet rack, or in transitwith one or more of the handling means.

Another feature of this design in addition to the obstruction freeaccess of the handling system is that this configuration addssignificantly to the structural integrity of the member, a major factorin weight reduction.

Another important feature of this design is that in many applications ofthe handling system the transfer from a truck to a loading dock or thereverse there of, over what is referred to as a dock leveler where thedifferential in height can be as much as ten percent grade. Anyobstruction such as ties, or cross members, not only tends to destroythese elements but in doing so also affects the structural integrity ofthe system.

It is important to note that both the interior and the exterior of thepallet sleeve are free of obstruction.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in itsnon-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included,but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to anelement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibilitythat more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearlyrequires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may bemade to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.

1. A pallet for bulk bags, comprising in combination: a pair of elongate“C” channel tine receiving members, each of the tine receiving membershaving a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and aninterior surface, with at least one receiving channel running along theinterior surface at the top, the exterior surface being devoid ofappendages and the interior surface being devoid of obstructions; and abulk bag having sides and a bottom, and means for securing tinereceiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.
 2. The pallet asdefined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bulk bag to thetine receiving member are straps secured to the bulk bag which areadapted to engage the at least one receiving channels of each of thetine receiving members.
 3. The pallet as defined in claim 2, wherein thestraps are elasticized.
 4. The pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein themeans for securing the bulk bag to the tine receiving member is adhesiveapplied to the top of each tine receiving member such that the bottom ofthe bulk bag adheres to the top of each of the tine receiving members.5. The pallet as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for securing thebulk bag to the tine receiving member are ropes secured to the bulk bagwhich are adapted to engage the at least one receiving channels of eachof the tine receiving members
 6. The pallet as defined in claim 1,wherein inwardly extending edge reinforcement extends longitudinallyalong a bottom edge of each of the opposed sides.
 7. The pallet asdefined in claim 1, wherein the tine receiving members are made frompolymer plastic.
 8. A pallet for bulk bags, comprising in combination: apair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members, each of the tinereceiving members having a top and opposed sides defining both anexterior surface and an interior surface, with at least one strapreceiving channel running along the interior surface at the top, theexterior surface being devoid of appendages and the interior surfacebeing devoid of obstructions; and a bulk bag having sides and a bottom,straps being secured to the bulk bag which are adapted to engage the atleast one strap receiving channel of each of the tine receiving membersfor the purpose of securing the tine receiving members to the bottom ofthe bulk bag.
 9. The pallet as defined in claim 8, wherein inwardlyextending edge reinforcement extends longitudinally along a bottom edgeof each of the opposed sides.
 10. The pallet as defined in claim 8,wherein the tine receiving members are made from polymer plastic.